About MCFA
working to build a sustainable and vibrant fishing future
Fishermen are our North Star
MCFA's mission
MCFA is an industry-based nonprofit that identifies and fosters ways to restore the fisheries of the Gulf of Maine and sustain Maine's fishing communities for future generations.
Together, we persevere.
Building Comprehensive Solutions in Partnership with Fishermen and Community
The foundation of our work starts in the ocean with abundant and healthy natural resources, because without fish, there are no fishermen. But healthy fish stocks aren't enough if Maine's fishermen lose durable access through lost permits and shrinking working waterfronts. Even with fish and access, lacking stable markets leaves our businesses and coastal communities vulnerable to economic failure. Most importantly, if we align resources, access, and markets yet fail to keep our people safe and healthy, we have failed in our mission.
We must address these interconnected challenges together. Building comprehensive solutions for lasting resilience.
History
The tale behind MCFA
In 2006, a group of groundfish fishermen from Port Clyde came together to found the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association. Spending their lives on the water, they recognized that to protect their communities and way of life, they needed a stronger collective voice in fisheries policy and management.
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It soon became clear that these founding principles resonated far beyond Port Clyde. Fishermen and community members from across the state joined the movement, leading the organization to expand into the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA)—a united effort to safeguard Maine’s marine resources and coastal communities.
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To build a lasting, professional advocacy organization, the board hired Ben Martens as MCFA’s first Executive Director in 2011, relieving full-time fishermen from the overwhelming burden of attending endless policy meetings while working on the water.
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Today, our scope and impact extend well beyond our original group of concerned founders. To reflect this evolution, MCFA transitioned from a membership-based group into a community-based nonprofit in 2025—ensuring our work serves all of Maine’s fishing communities, marine ecosystems, and working waterfronts.
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